Withania Pauq.
Genus composed of 8 species in South America, S Africa, Canary Islands and from the Mediterranean region to India. In North Africa it is represented by 4 native species.
Key to species
1 Leaves white-tomentose. Calyx 6-8 mm at fruiting, globose and closely applied to fruit Withania adpressa
1 Leaves green or slightly white-tomentose. Calyx 10-25 mm at fruiting, campanulate or urceolate and separated from fruit 2
2 Leaf blade with truncated or slightly cordate base, leaves glabrous or pubescent-glandular with simple glandular hairs. Calyx campanulate Withania frutescens
2 Leaf blade with cuneate base, with glabrous or tomentose upper side and densely tomentose underside, with eglandular branched hairs. Calyx urceolate at fruiting 3
3 Leaf blade from lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, with acute or subobtuse apex. Plant subwoody Withania somnifera
3 Leaf blade oblong-elliptic, with obtuse apex. Plant clearly woody Withania obtusifolia
Updated by: B. Valdés.